Without
pausing, or suffering her to rally her thoughts, he led her to the cabin
stairs, which she descended, wondering at his conduct, but determined
not to betray her own secret wrongs on the customs to a stranger.
Stefano Milano was asleep in a sail on deck. A touch aroused him, and a
sign gave him to understand that the imaginary Roderigo stood before
him.
"A thousand pardons, Signore," said the gaping mariner; "is the freight
come?"
"In part only. I have brought thee a certain Annina Torti, the daughter
of old Tommaso Torti, a wine-seller of the Lido."
"Santa Madre! does the Senate think it necessary to send one like her
from the city in secret?"
"It does; and it lays great stress on her detention. I have come hither
with her, without suspicion of my object, and she has been prevailed on
to enter thy cabin, under a pretence of some secret dealings in wines.
According to our former understanding, it will be thy business to make
sure of her presence."
"That is easily done," returned Stefano, stepping forward and closing
the cabin-door, which he secured by a bolt.
"She is alone, now, with the image of our Lady, and a better occasion
to repeat her aves cannot offer."
"This is well, if thou canst keep her so. It is now time to lift thy
anchors, and to go beyond the tiers of the vessels with the felucca."
"Signore, there wants but five minutes for that duty, since we are
ready.
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